Kaelan peered around Zack and saw that Dravesh had seen her. Her gaze didn't waver even though she was filled with fear and wariness. She looked back and forth between the ape-man and Zack, realizing that they knew each other as well as the dead girl, Sin, whose body lay in the desert. Looking behind her at the blue man, she looked up and saw that his red eyes were watering from the remaining rays of daylight and mouthed the words, 'Are you alright?' to him. She saw him nod and turned just in time to see Dravesh pull his sword.

Watching she stepped off to the side, making sure that they all had room to move and drew the black knife that she carried, watching Dravesh and the guards. She needed cunning and swiftness and felt the dna of the wolf take hold as her eyes turned amber, making her look very much like Sin. She waited, not wanting to get in Zack or the blue man's way if they attacked first. Instead, she concentrated on the guards a snarl escaping from her lips.

Zack gave a chuckle. “I’m sorry to tell you this but you are way beyond bloodshot eyes!” Zack hunched his shouldered taking the steps three at a time reaching the corner coming round he felt a sudden increase of heat feeling as if he was roasting his eyes shrinking to pin points he gave a shiver as he reacted to all this. His eyes went wide slightly but quickly went back to slits as too much light entered them. “Guess this is what was causing you to fear.” Looking back to Kaelan.

“Dravesh my old pal, god I could kill you right now!” Zack giving a wide almost neutral uncaring grin “Would I let you down and die?” Zack gave a friendly grin to the guards “Yeah we are all civilized in this tavern as men.” He stressed the word men to the chimp a large amount of the customers had recognized Zack from last night they began to edge away leaving the guards and Dravesh in the open middle by the bar. Zack looked to the wine glasses. “I’m happy with mine.” Shaking the bottle in his hand. “Good stuff the emotions you feel for some people can disappear even mercy.” Zack stepped forward he looked Dravesh up and down the comment on Sin stung him a pang in his chest he slowly began to grin. “I was kept cause I had something you did not have.” Dravesh looking into Zack’s own eyes saw something almost pure darkness move within those pupils surfacing slowly a whisper in Zack’s head. “Already fighting even before the sun is fully down, Zack are we going back to the old days?” He could feel the demon stepping to its observers seat his strength gain every second as the sun dropped inch by inch Zack looked at the scimitar with uncaring eyes he looked sideways the nearest guard to him held a long spear like implement but the end was tipped with a device which gave off sparks. “Men armed with cattle prods?”

Dravesh stabbed his sword into the floor and leaned on it while he and Zack conversed, all the while keeping an eye on the fading day. He was aware the man's aversion to sunlight, although he never truly learned why or to what extent it effected him and although it was wiser to fight the man sooner rather than later the ape-man's pride would not allow it. He did not NEED to fight a weakened adversary and certainly not the whelp before him.

"So what is it you have that I do not?" Questioned Dravesh, "Hmmmm? Do you believe you're better than me? You and all your kind." he said gesturing to the Humans and Humanoids around them, "Please spare me that."

Dravesh then took note of the large blue skinned man that made his way to the bar, took a stool and reached for one of the wine glasses. "Another nocturnal." he commented, "Really Zack, you must choose better company. This sun-blind giant and pathetic substitute for Sin are beneath you. I'll tell you what. Why don't you rejoin us? Your former master is here, in the city at this moment, under the protection of lord Bloodhand himself."

The ape-man cackled, delighting in having what he believed to be the upper hand. "You see, Zack. I am now the lord of the dance and you, you're nothing but a drifter, mourning the loss of one my father's discarded experiments. Of course I can't say that she did not prove entertaining from time to time. At least she was good for something."

Dravesh's brave taunts were made while the slowly fading rays of the sun yet shone into the tavern. The ape-man realizing that while the day remained he could get in his digs and perhaps unbalance his opponent.



Lyand sat calmly at the bar, studying, through blurry eyes, the two adversaries. Zack's aversion to the sunlight was obviously far greater than his own and he was not sure if the tall man would be able to contend with the muscular ape-creature. He was also concerned with the soldiers and their electrical spears. In his present state he would not be able to put up much of a fight, accept to defend himself, and prayed that Zack's old acquaintance would choose to battle him one on one. Of course there was the girl, but he had his doubts that she would be able to do much, but then again, he had been wrong before.

Dravesh stabbed his sword into the floor and leaned on it while he and Zack conversed, all the while keeping an eye on the fading day. He was aware the man's aversion to sunlight, although he never truly learned why or to what extent it effected him and although it was wiser to fight the man sooner rather than later the ape-man's pride would not allow it. He did not NEED to fight a weakened adversary and certainly not the whelp before him.

Zack gave a frown he gave a laugh trying to pull himself together. “I have demon’s my child demon’s my father called me a shell and that’s what I will forever be, oh and you don’t have your.... he looked” down a little nod of his head for he knew Dravesh had been neutered at the labs. “Catch my drift?” Zack stood straight the guard in the corner of his eye was getting jumpy Zack could see this easily. “I believe, wait I know I’m better than you at least in a fair dual but who knows about just grappling and trying to rip each other’s throats out, it would be an interesting fight though.”

Zack turned round scratching the side of his scar. “Who else do you expect to find me and point me towards a town at a few hours to sunrise I wouldn’t expect a day walker like you to even be awake by then.” He turned back round slowly listening to the jibes he stepped forward not listening to the last sentence. “Can I have a look at your scimitar?” Showing general interest in the weapon above their conversation playing cool but he didn’t feel cool he felt frozen no feelings would come and he realised why the demon was egging him on hiding the emotions which would cloud him and ruin his fighting. Zack took a step forward tilting his head slightly as he saw the guard raise his spear. “Your sword has too heavy a blade it needs shaving otherwise you may have problems with swinging the lunk.”

Kaelan watched the exchange between Zack and Dravesh, something familiar about the ape-man. She had felt it earlier when he'd questioned her about the dead girl and the knife. But, she couldn't quite figure out where she'd seen him before today.

Her knife was drawn and her blue eyes now cast an amber tint as the dna of the wolf coursed through her system. She became aware of where everyone was...Lyand, the guards, the bartender, the one serving girl who was still out in the open. She could smell Dravesh's nasty breath with her enhanced sense of smell as well as the horrid body odor of the dog-man clear across the room. Her hearing had also become more acute and she heard the heartbeat of one of the guards and then she heard him draw his sword. He was standing behind a large beam over to the right of her about 20 feet away.

Quietly and with purpose, her gaze was on the shoulder of the guard standing behind the beam. She could still smell and hear everyone else and knew where everyone was at as she came up on the guard. Before he knew what was going on, he felt the point of a blade upon the back of his neck, along with a low growl...much like Sin's growl.

"Sheath your sword and stand down or you lose what blood you have coursing through your veins. This is between Zack and the ape."

The guard sheathed his sword and raised his hands, showing that he had complied with the woman who barely came up to his shoulder, but who had a sharp blade at the base of his neck.

Hearing a growl much like Sin's, Dravesh looked over at the small gypsy woman, seeing the eyes much like Sin's only light blue with an amber tint.

"Mama Beverly taught me that it was bad manners to interfere in a fight unless it is a battle without honor."

This caught both Zack's and Dravesh's attention...the mention of Mama Beverly for there was a motherly lab assistant who had disappeared many years ago named Beverly, at the same time a 3 to 4 year old little girl had disappeared from the labs......a little girl with light blue eyes.

Kaelan looked over at Zack smiling at him.

"If possible, no one will interfere...." she looked at Dravesh....."if you think you can accomplish whatever it is you wish to accomplish with honor, ape-man."

Dravesh growled angrily at Zack's insolence. How dare he insult him in such a lewd manner! With ease the ape-man hefted up the heavy scimitar and brandished the broad, curved blade at him. "I have not troubles wielding my sword!", he screamed aloud and his choice of words made one consider what 'sword' the ape-man spoke of.

It was now not only obvious to Zack, but to everyone watching their exchange that the ape-man was just about done talking. The tall man had struck a nerve and Dravesh demanded blood in return.

"Draw your sword, Zack!" challenged Dravesh and as he moved away and into the open floor, he took note of something the girl said. She had mentioned someone from the past and inconsequential assistant, which meant the gypsy bore some kind of connection to the old lab. Yet another aberration that slipped it's collar it seemed. He would have to see to her after he dealt with his fool hardy foe because if there was thing that Dravesh couldn't stand was loose ends. Sin was finally dead and he didn't need some ghost from the past resurrecting her memory so soon.

When the girl spoke to him, Dravesh lashed out. "Hold your tongue girl!" he spat, "Else I cut it out!" His eyes raged with a frightening fury, the as he turned back to Zack they sobered somewhat. "Now, where were we? Oh, yes. I believe you were going to consider drawing your sword, or are you too much of a coward to face me."



Lyand remained quiet and still while he watched the ape-man with half closed eyes. A near-by guard, menaced him with his 'electric spear' and warned him to stay seated and the big man peacefully obeyed. Taking another sip of wine, he shuddered slightly, as if chilled but then quickly regained his composure. With each second that passed his strength grew with the setting of the sun and looking to Zack, he knew that his attributes were also getting stronger, but the sun still hung in the sky. Would it set before the beginning of the battle? Would he be a match for the ape-man?

Zack gave a grin as he looked down the blade of the sword. “I’m sure you can.” Sarcasm dripping from the sentence. He took a step back again finding the point of the ape’s sword waving a little too close to him. Zack looked down to the bottle of wine he drank the final bit. His finger tracing the scar upwards stopping at his hairline he held his hand there watching as the monkey was enraged. “A rabid animal waiting to be put down.” Zack turned smiling to Kaelan but she saw his eyes were empty of emotion he was back to how she had seen him when he had been fighting the men a shell his eyes glazing like a dead man’s.

The look in the monkey’s eyes seemed to unlock the demon or maybe the sun had set enough that the demon could finally step forward. “No honour needed?” Zack stood next to the demon taking an external look upon the situation. “I will fill his pride I will fight with skill not tricks.” The demon nodded its understanding “May Kades gates swallow him into the abyss and turn him over.” Zack lowered his head. “No not this time we should simply end his pain simply basing him on current actions would make me a hypocrite.” The demon shrugged walking back to its observer seat “Do what you will Kade will have others!”

Zack drew his sword slowly the dark blade slipping into a guard stance horizontally held in both hands the claymore was longer than the apes scimitar almost touching his neck where as his was still a good distance from Zack. “I am no coward but I thought it would be unfair at this” questioning as he stood statue still even his coat did not stir as he held the blade unwavering thinking he would need no more strength but he still felt stiff knowing he should prolong the fight allowing him to gain enough strength. Zack lifted his sword into a salute in front of his face he had decided on defensive. “Come if you think you have the bravery to step where only demons sleep.” Zack stood his feet wide a stable stance taking something he knew would be stronger than himself he only had technique on his side and a grinning demon waiting for the moment.

Lyand felt the cool relief of the approaching night wash over him. As the bloodied sun ebbed behind the deep orange cliffs, the sickness he choked down began to subside. He straightened in his stool and flashed his red stare at the guard beside him. The man was fit, but hardly a worry to someone of his stature and he knew it. Still, Lyand respected the man's authority and cared nothing of what the guard may have done or would do in the future, it was not for him to judge.

He returned to watching the impending battle. The ape-man, 'Dravesh' was the aggressor. He took up the offensive while Zack with the longer weapon, wisely prepared to defend. As the ape-man grit his teeth and gripped his sword he could see the powerful corded muscles ripple beneath his black hair. He was indeed strong, further displayed by the way the heavy scimitar bobbed from side to side, the strength of his wrist alone swinging the otherwise over-weighted weapon as he taunted Zack.

Lyand's eyes narrowed as the ape-man's body tensed. He could see the subtle shift in Dravesh's weight. Soon it would begin.




Dravesh's mouth twisted into a vicious grin. He crouched down low, so that Zack towered even higher above him and held his stance, peering from beneath his heavy brow line at the tall swordsman.The he moved. The guards, gasped as the ape-man had moved so fast that the table that was next to him seemed to appear in his hand.

"Enough!" Boomed a commanding voice.

All eyes looked to entrance of the tavern where a massive man filled the doorway and those that recognized the man fell off their seats and to their knees out of respect and fear for their lord.



Lord Kullen Bloodhand stepped into the 'Bloody-52' and a troop of guards spilled in from behind him, filling the tavern.

Dravesh still preparing to throw the table, relaxed and panted out the adrenaline surging through his body. His eyes darted to Zack's then back to the lord, curious why he would interrupt their duel.

Lord Bloodhand strode across the floor, his heavy steps echoing through the silent room. He stopped beside Dravesh, staring at Zack. "Sheath your sword." he quietly told Dravesh and when the ape-man hesitated, turned his scarred head and glared at him.

Dravesh complied and wiped the spit that accumulated round his mouth with the back of his arm. "Fortune smiles upon you!" he cursed Zack.

The lord motioned for the ape-man to fall in rank and Dravesh reluctantly skulked away. When the ape-man was at bay he turned his cold, sunken stare to the tall swordsman. He momentarily glanced at his companions, then focused on the woman who held her knife to the throat of one of his men. He uttered not a word but his eyes told Kaelen that she had best sheath her weapon, but did not wait for her to act before he spoke.

"No one duels without my consent. That is the law!" Growled Bloodhand, then he turned to those that bowed before him, "What is the law!" he demanded.

"The ring of pain." They responded in unison.

The lord then returned his dark stare to Zack. "The ring of pain." he repeated, "It is how we preserve order here. Two stand! One falls! And to the victor go the spoils. This is our way, outlander." He held Zack's eyes for a moment then his stare drifted to the blue skinned man.

Lyand was curious to find a hint of recognition in the lord's eyes. A disconcerting look of apprehension, fleeting as the beat of a moth's wing but it had been there.

"Need I remind the lot of you," the lord continued, "that we are at war. Maulgath threatens to attack at any moment and we can spare no blood on trivial disputes." His eyes then flashed back to Zack, "If death is what you seek then look for it on the battlefield."

The lord was silent then. He paused if only to see who would dare speak back to him. Only the guards, Dravesh and the three strangers remained standing in his presence but he did not hint that they revere him so, all that he seemed to be concerned with is whether or not they would fight on the side of Sanguine Valley. He did not say it, but it was clear that he demanded the strangers to choose their side, right then and there.

Zack heard the yell of the man he flicked the claymore into the floor between him and the new comers he looked over the crosspiece at the growing crowd of guards. He frowned at Lord Kullen’s entry the man had stopped a dual usually such an act got you killed but old ways had been abandoned. Zack looked at the man his eyes seeming to refocus the glaze leaving them the demon almost gave a cry of disappointment. “God damn it Zack they always spoil our fun the ‘law’ he calls it.” The demon gave a laugh as it slouched in its seat watching what happened. “Or maybe fortune smiles on you Dravesh, who knows?”

“He turned to the Lord looking him up and down listening to his speak of ‘The ring of pain’ the demon gave a laugh. “Could be our day job Zack get those muscles of yours working.” The demon snickering at Zack who looked at the lord with interest. “You are at war?” Zack gave a bellow of a laugh at the Lord’s face. “That’s why you shelter the doctor?” Zack couldn’t stop one hand on the sword the other on his stomach holding the laughter. Zack straightened slowly looking at the man’s face. “I’m sorry that I can’t join your army with the Doc in your army with my old pal Dravesh, I’ll leave town now if you would let me.” Zack picked out the claymore with his hand he sheathed it beginning to walk towards the guards for the door.

Kaelan glared at Dravesh when he told her to shut her mouth, then smiled sweetly at him, only the smile did not reach her amber tinted blue eyes. When Lord Kullen stormed in, she couldn't stop the grimace, looking at the scarred man who's beady eyes made her more uncomfortable than Dravesh did. When his glare touched her, she simply glared back but lowered her knife as she backed away from the guard. Her brows furrowed again as she remembered Dravesh mentioning someone named Bainbridge and wondered why that name was also familiar to her.

At the mention of the 'ring of pain' she listened closely to what was being said and kept the dna of the wolf close at hand, keeping her keen sense of hearing and smell. She couldn't stop a chuckle at Zack's dry humor as he laughed as he mentioned the doctor.

When she saw Lord Kullen's gaze come to her, then look at her blade that even though lowered, was not sheathed, she stared back, not lowering her gaze as the patrons of the tavern had done.

"I fight for noone but friends and myself. You m'lord, are not a friend if you keep company with the likes of him, unless you are making pillows out of the hair I am sure he sheds. I will leave with Zack when he leaves, but I do thank you for your hospitality and wish you luck in your battle with whomever it is you battle with."

Noone could mistake the growl that came from Dravesh and she didn't miss the glare that he threw her way. A glare that promised retribution for her words. This time, she met his glare with one of her own, as with Lord Kullen, not lowering her gaze.

Kaelan then walked over to Zack, keeping track of where everyone was. She stood in between him and Lyand, who was still seated at the bar. But, her gaze kept drifting over to Dravesh, knowing that somehow from somewhere, she knew him.

The guards prevented Zack's exit and before any violence was provoked the heavy steps of lord Bloodhand drew near, the past the warrior. He moved into a corner of the tavern and those few that occupied the area quickly cleared out. Kullen then turned to Zack and gave a subtle gesture to one of the now vacant tables. Frantically the bar keeper who seemed to have appeared out of no where, was cleaning it and he had already brought with him a tray with the best bottle of wine his meager establishment had. A bottle reserved for just such a rare occasion.

When Zack seemed reluctant the lord spoke. "Do me the honor." he said encouragingly, "What 'ave you to lose?" he added, then looked across the room to the blue skinned man, "Him too, and your woman is welcome."

Whether or not Zack or the others wished to join the lord was immaterial. The tavern was teeming with guards, and their present option of a peaceful discussion was far more attractive than the alternative. So they found themselves sharing a table with the very man that harbored that man which Zack swore vengeance against.

The inn keeper quickly returned with a platter of meat and other delicacies and nervously placed them on the table before he lord. Kullen scrutinized the food then his dark eyes burned into the trembling man's bowed head, fearing his din would be an insult to the man, but the lord dug in like any other. He tore off a leg of some kind of bird and ripped into the roasted flesh. Nodding with satisfaction he waved the man away and turned his attention to his guests, motioning for them to help themselves to heaping tray of food.

"I'll get right to it then." he began, "I need fighters. Doctor Bainbridge's monstrosities are not going to spring up over night and we are on the edge of a battle that may spell the end of Sanguine Valley."

Kullen took another bite of meat and washed down with a swig of wine. Savoring it's flavor, he considered it worthy to share and ordered a guard to fill the goblets of the other three. "I don't give a damn if any of you don't care for the company I keep. I don't have the luxury of holding true to my morals as you do," he said to Zack, "right now I am acting in the best interest of this town. Now you're either with us or against us the choice is yours. If ye choose to throw your swords in, then I have a well paying task for the three of you."

The lord paused and took another sip of his wine, studying their faces from over the rim of his glass. "I need the three of you to seek out the enemy encampment and wreak as much havoc as possible. I want you to wound this lion that threatens us. Will you do it?"

Zack sat in the corner seat his claymore resting against the desk he observed the taking of meat with little interest he picked up the wine glass only half filled he picked up the bottle after the guard totting the cup to the brim. “Gotta have a full cup if you’re drinking.” Zack placed the bottle back down looking into the eyes of the scarred face. “Payment….” He thought it over he had loads of money considering his earlier life he did not need such immaterial jobs to pay off his bills but he was not sure of his two friends and ‘payment’ for Zack would be Bainbridge’s head in a sack. “May I negotiate terms of payment?” He could feel the surprised glares of Dravesh and Kaelan. “I want the Doc’s head to put simply solves a lot of problems for me.” Zack leaned forward with a devilish grin seeming to have grown fangs as the sun had gone down. “Could you betray them for the payment?” nodding his head towards Dravesh the demon was getting bored tapping on his throne with a claw. “Can we kill him already corrupt warriors should take there own life but he has gone too far.” Zack leant back in his seat considering his options if he killed the Lord would the guard really stand up to defend the tyrant, Kullen seemed to see the eyes of Zack dilate then redilate rapidly as he considered the action but after a few seconds finally they stopped pulling back into focus Zack looked at the Lord. “Sorry was thinking hard then.”

Kaelan did not sit down with Zack, instead she stood off to the side, listening intently to what the Lord had to say. When he said something about being Zack's woman, she snickered. She barely knew him and would not consider herself his woman at all. When she saw Lord Kullen tear into the leg of the baked bird, she wrinkled her nose at his lack of table manners. She could feel Dravesh glaring at her....his cold stare boring into her back. She knew she'd hit a nerve with her comment about making pillows out of the hair he may or may not shed. Sometimes her mouth got the better of her. Mama Beverly always told her that her mouth would be her downfall.

She stood with her arms crossed watching. When Zack actally seemed to be weighing the odds of working for this tub of lard, she glared at him. Once he was done talking, she spoke up.

"I do not need anyone speaking for me, m'lord. I fight for no one but friends and myself. I do not know you, therefore I cannot consider you a friend. If Zack and his friend prefer to stay and fight, that is there business. I would just as soon leave this place and it's ill manners."

Zack looked back to Kaelan who still stood he looked back to Kullen he looked at him he saw a silent rage at the insolence of the girl having ridiculed him in front of his guards Zack stood up slowly finishing the remainder of his wine he looked at the man the demon leaned forward as Zack put his hand on the hilt of his sword. “You gonna do its Zack my boy?” The demon’s smile widening but Zack carefully slid the sword into his sheathing loop on his back to the demon’s disappointment. “He is a traitor to the ways I should not negotiate I shall find another way to my goals.” The demon laughed a gleeful sound from the depths. “Which goals the old one of the world’s strongest swordsmen who kills or is this a new one for personnel revenge?” Zack grimaced outwardly to the people hearing his own arrogant words from the demon before.

“I’m sorry Kullen but the idea of working under you has finally clicked it would mark my record I already have a festered stain to atone for I shall not work under such a thing who used to call himself a warrior back in my day we would simply take our own life had we corrupted our self sentence of justice we cannot bend the rules of our ancestors, you have forgotten the face of your father.” Zack turned without looking back to Lyand he began walking to the door a guard stepping in front of him. “Move or die!” Zack’s voice coming in a hiss his hand reaching back for the sword the tension thick in the air, guards squeezing closer Dravesh visibly moving wanting a stab at Zack if all was let loose by Kullen civilians crawled further away waiting for the usual order of slaughter.

Lyand who had sat silently, listening carefully to lord Bloodhand's words moved in unison with Zack as he rose to leave. He cared little for the idea of pledging his allegiance to the lord and even less so for becoming a mercenary. He waded through the guards, behind Zack, keeping the small woman between them, but when the reached the doorway it seemed that the lord wasn't about to let them leave so easily.



Lord Kullen rose from his seat and slowly walked to the doorway, where the three were surrounded by many swords and electrified spears awaiting to strike them down, but the lord was in a generous mood and waved to his men to let them pass. "Let them go." he said dismissively, but before they left he had a few more words to share.

"Be gone by morning Zack. The doctor is far more important than your paltry skills. If I see either of you come morning, I'll hang your entrails from the walls!" he charged, then just when Lyand had thought he had been all but forgotten the lord addressed him directly. "Lyand! Lyand of the Moon." he called.

The large man turned, his red eyes flashing in the dark. "How is it you know that name?" he asked.

The lord smiled and chuckled. "He is waiting for you. I offered you my hand and you spat on it! Now go and face your death alone!" he told him.

Lyand grimaced but said nothing in reply. He fell in line behind Zack and disappeared into the night.